Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20
FIGURES, FACTS. AND FANCY.
A Review Of the Volunteers Record

From the New York Times.
Americans do well to be enthusiastic over the
work OF the volunteer. Moderation in all things,
however, is to be earnestly commended and cold.
careful study Of figures is always wholesome. The
result OF such review OF figures is not likely to
drive wise man crazy with anticipatory Joy,
though 1t Is productive OF no little comfort OF soul
The first time the volunteer met the other giant
sloops was in the run OF the New YORK Yacht
Clubs fleet from New London to Newport. The
work done by the yachts between the start and
Watch Hill counts for nothing, owing to the I'M
certain winds. From Watch Hill to Point Judith
1t was windward beat with light air. In the Tx
miles the Volunteer beat the Puritan minutes, SIS
seconds. That was the first test. The next was
the GOelet Cup race OF Newport. In the sail of
l1S miles east-sOutheast from the start to the
Vineyard Sound lightshtp, with moderate wind
south-sOuthwest, the Volunteer gained minutes
Is seconds on the Mayflower, and 0 minutes IL
from the vineyard Sound to the Hen and Chickens
lightship, the only running with spinnaker set
that the Volunteer did during the cruise, she
In the reach home, distance OF about l6 nautical
miles, which she accomplished in hour and %
minutes and 10 seconds with freshening breeze,
the Volunteer beat the Puritan l minute and -
seconds and the Mayf1Ower minutes SO seconds.
In the sail from Newport to Holmes Hole or
vineyard var Haven the only fair test Of the yachts
lightshlp to the Vineyard Sound Lightship In
this the Volunteer beat the Puritan minutes and
-
seconds. The Puritan lost something like half q
minute by endeavor1ng to pinch out to wind
ward of the steel sloop. In the Eastern Yacht
Club regatta on August IL, the Volunteer in the
II miles OF windWard work, beat the Atlantic the
only boat close to her, minutes and Al seconds
the Puritan split tacks with her rival, stood
away to the eastward, and was beaten IL
minutes 46 seconds on this leg of The course
In the run OF II miles with the wind on
the StarbOard quarter the Puritan gained minute
is seconds on the new sloop but this was largely
due to the fact that the Volunteer overstood the
mark. In the reach OF IL miles to the finish the
volunteer covered the distance in 1:O7 :54 the
Puritan in :O5:lS. and the Atlantic in :Oo :O3
squat at the finish accounts for some OF this
gain, but the Puritan and the Atlantic must have
squall helped them to go faster. On Monday, in
the W1ndward work from Vineyard Haven to the
red buoy on Cuttyhunk Light, the Volunteer beat
the Puritan minutes 80 seconds. Thence to the
finish the yachts sailed nearly close hauled and
the Puritan gained "A seconds on the new yacht.
We should know good deal more about the Vol
unteer If the Mayfower had done her best on
the cruise 1t Is pretty safe to say that she ought
TO nave finished between the Volunteer and the
puritan IN some OF the races In which she was no.
where. The figures show that the Volunteer is a
wonderful boat in windward work. They do not
show that she is much superior to the Puritan in
has not been fully tried in the latter department
OF sailing She is certainly an Improvement, for
,ne snr WORK Is tne e, severest test Of sail
Volunteer is immeasurably the superior Of
the older sloops. The Puritan has been a
good second thus far 1t Is generally conceded
that the Mayfiower is faster yacht than the Pur-
itan and that she Is especially smart in going to
wlndward. She was handled during the cruise In
a manner that was almost criminal 1t is not
likely, however, that she can beat the Volunteer
even when at her best; but she can give the new
sloop an exceedingly sharp chase. 1t is impossible
To tell what the Volunteer Will do with the noble
craft now lying of Tompktnsville; but in the
Thistle she Will find foem IN worthy OF her steel
fatrlotlsin Is laudaoe quality, but the figures
90 not shout for JOY that the cup is surely 70 re-
main ours